Executive Recruiting and Permanent Placement
When the role is too important to get wrong, you need more than a job posting and a hope that the right candidate applies.Friday Workforce Solutions provides executive recruiting for professional, technical, legal and leadership positions where experience, leadership style, skill, and cultural alignment are critical to success. We actively source and recruit talent through our networks reaching candidates who may never see your job posting but are a perfect fit for your team.
What Is Permanent Direct Hire?
Permanent direct hire means Friday sources, vets, and presents qualified candidates for your open position and the candidate you select is your permanent employee. There is no temp period, no trial phase, and no intermediary. You hire them directly.
This approach is designed for roles where getting the right person matters more than getting a person quickly. We invest dedicated time in understanding your organization, the ideal candidate, the role requirements and specific skills required, and the leadership dynamics at play. Then we conduct a targeted search that goes beyond active job seekers to reach passive candidates who are not browsing job boards but who would consider the right opportunity.
Search Options
At Friday, we offer three levels of executive recruiting engagement to match the urgency, complexity, and investment level of your search.
Retained Search
An exclusive upfront-paid search where the recruiter manages the entire process from strategy through placement.
Your search is our top priority. We use our 12 step framework to ensure that you get the right hire. A retained search begins with an upfront engagement fee and provides the highest level of dedicated recruiter time, candidate exclusivity, and structured evaluation. We conduct in-depth screening, leadership assessments, and thorough reference checks for each placed candidate.
Best for: C-suite, senior leadership, and mission-critical roles where the wrong hire would be costly and disruptive.
Engaged Search
Our most common approach. A committed recruiting partnership with an upfront investment and defined milestones. We prioritize your role, align closely on the profile, and run a targeted search while maintaining some flexibility to support other clients. Ideal for important hires where you want a higher level of focus without going fully exclusive.
Best for: Mid-level professional and management positions that need priority attention and a structured search process without the full retained commitment.
Contingent Search
A success-based model with no upfront cost. Friday identifies and presents qualified candidates, and you pay a placement fee only when you hire. This approach provides access to pre-screened candidates with a flexible, lower-commitment engagement.
Best for: Roles with broader talent pools or organizations looking to supplement internal recruiting efforts with additional market reach.
Comparing Your Options
| Retained | Engaged | Contingent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Level | Highest — dedicated focus | High — significant allocation | Standard — balanced across searches |
| Recruiter Allocation | Exclusive, full capacity | Dedicated, partial capacity | Shared across multiple searches |
| Upfront Investment | Yes — Retainer fee | Yes — flat engagement fee | None |
| Candidate Exclusivity | Guaranteed | Early and prioritized access | Not guaranteed |
| Best For | C-suite, senior leadership, Mission Critical | Senior Leadership & Mid-level professional, management | Broader roles, supplemental recruiting |
What is the difference between retained and contingent recruiting?
Retained recruiting provides the highest priority and dedicated recruiter focus for executive or key roles that make the biggest impact to your company. You pay an upfront retainer fee from the total to be owed, that is applied to additional sourcing tools and methods, and your search receives exclusive attention with guaranteed candidate exclusivity. Contingent recruiting is success-based – no upfront cost, but recruiter time is shared across multiple searches and candidate exclusivity is not guaranteed. The right choice depends on role criticality and timeline urgency.
How long does a permanent direct hire search take?
Most permanent direct hire searches with Friday can take 30 to 45 days from kickoff to offer acceptance. Retained and engaged searches can move faster because of dedicated recruiter allocation and prioritized focus. Contingent searches may take longer depending on role complexity and market conditions. We provide regular pipeline updates throughout the process so you always know where your search stands.
What if a permanent hire doesn't work out?
Friday Workforce Solutions offers a 60-90-day replacement guarantee on all permanent direct hire placements. If the candidate does not work out within the first 90 days, we restart the search and replace them at no additional placement fee. This guarantee reflects our confidence in our screening process and our commitment to finding the right long-term fit for your team.
What types of roles does Friday fill through permanent direct hire?
We fill professional, technical, legal and executive positions across industries primarily based on the east coast. Common roles include plant managers, directors, engineers, finance leaders, HR executives, project managers, attorneys, partners and technical specialists. If the role requires specialized skills, leadership experience, or a specific cultural fit that makes traditional job postings insufficient, permanent direct hire with dedicated recruiting is the right approach.
Ready to Find Your Next Permanent Hire?
Let us connect you with the talent your team needs.
Call (828) 684-8700 | Email: AshevilleJobs@friday-staffing.com